Battery connector



May 30, 1939-' F. s. SHIPMAN 2,160,422

BATTERY CONNECTOR Y Filed Jan. 2l, 1937 /mig" TIE-E A QRNEY Patented May30,1939 2,160,422

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATTERY CONNECTOR Frank S. Shipman, RockIsland, Ill., asoignor of lililie-half to Raymond Henry, Bock Island,

Application January 21, 1937, `Serial No. 121,479

4 Claims. (Cl. 173-259) The present invention relates to a connectorFig. 2 represents a fragmentary, partially secand more especially a'connector of the type used tional view'of the structure shown in Fig. 1,as with storage batteries. It is a well known fact if taken along theplane indicated by the line that, in such connectors, when there are two2 2, Fig. 1;

metals of different characteristics which are sub- Fig. 3 represents apartially sectional view of 5 ject to the fumes rising from the batteryand amodifled form of this invention; these metals are in contact, thereis a local ae- Fig. 4 represents a vertical section taken subtion set upbetween the metals, -as well as a stantially along the plane indicatedby thevline chemical reaction between the acid fumes and vi--IL Fig. 3.one or more of the metals It is also a well Reference will 'now be madein greater detail m known fact that the sulphurlc acid of the batto theannexed drawing for a more complete detery and the fumes therefrom donot react upon scription of this invention. In the structure lead. If a.non-lead connector engages the lead Shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a cable l,covered by a n `'terminal or post of the battery, then there willnon-corrodible covering 2, has the covering 2 rebe local action andcorrosion between these metmoved from an end section, as shown at 3.This als, due to the acid or fumes rising from the end section isinserted in the sleeve t which probattery. As ordinarily constructed,the head of jects from one side of the head 5 and, essentially, theconnector has means provided for clamping forms a part thereof. Thishead 5 partially enthe head to the battery post, including as a p'artcircles the post 6 0f the battery 7 and iS prothereof a bolt formed froma non-lead metal. vided with a. slit 8 which permits the head 5 to 20 Asa result of this, there is always corrosion and open up and to becompressed tightly against the formation of a chemical salt, commonlycopthe post 6, when applied thereto. Since lead is per sulphate, aroundthe post of the battery. not corrodible by the acid fumes given Off bythe Generally speaking, therefore, it is the purbattery, it ispreferable to make the sleeve li and pose of this invention to provide aconnector for head 5 of lead. The Dart Which Surrounds and 25 a batterywhich may be securely attached to a exerts an inward pressure upon-thehead 5 is prefbattery post and which will not be subject to erably` madeof contractile rubber shaped into a corrosion. More specifically, theobjects of this ring 9 and from this extends a tubular sleeve ininvention comprise the provision of a battery which, in the completelyassembled structure, connector having a non-corrodible head foratsurrounds the sleeve 4 and the end portion of the 30 tachment to abattery post; the provision of a cable covering 2, fitting both tightlyso-as to prebattery connector which has non-corrodible vent access ofthe acid fumes to the cable 3 at means for attaching same to a batterypost and the junction between the sleeve d and the adjaholding itsecurely attached thereto; the provicent end of the covering 2.

' 35 sion in a bi-metallic battery connector of means The preferable wayto assemble this structure 35 for preventing corrosion of either or bothof the is to insert the cable i and its covering 2 through metals at thepoint of junction thereof; the prothe sleeve it, passing the sameoutwardly through vision of means for effectively securing a monooneside of the ring S so that the sleeve d may be metallic batteryconnector to a battery post; and slipped over the stripped end 3 of thecable.

40 such further objects, advantages, and capabili- After this has beendone, the sleeve 4 is corn- 40 ties as will hereafterl appear and as areinherent pressed upon the end of the cable very tightly in theconstruction disclosed herein. My invenso as to force a little of thelead between the tion further resides in the combination, construostrandof the cable. This makes a more or less tion, and arrangement of partsillustrated-in the permanent joint between the two,l and the cableaccompanying drawing and, While I have shown and the sleeve can now beslid back into position therein what is now regarded as the preferred inthe rubber sleeve I0, as shown in Figs. 1 and '2, embodiment of thisinvention and a single modithe head 5 assuming its proper positionwithin cation thereof, -I desire the same to be underthe ring 9. Sincethe ring 9, when not under stood as illustrative only, and not to beinterinternal stress, is smaller internally than the preted in alimiting sense. head 5, when applied to the post 6, the rubber 50 I nthe drawing annexed hereto and forming a tends to contact the head 5,when assembled. part hereof, Therefore, when the head 5 is applied tothe Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary, partially secpost 6 and forced intoposition, it is expanded tional view of a connector embodying mypresbecause of the tapered form of the post. This ent invention;enlarges the head 5 and consequently distends 55 the ring 9. On accountof this, the natural contractility of the rubber will hold the head l intight engagement with the post l.

'I'he cable I is normally made of stranded copper but it is of courseunderstood that it may be made of other non-lead conducting material andmay be made in any desired form, as circular, oval, or flatcross-section. In the ,construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, theconducting element "II is shown as formed integrally with the head 5,and

. it should therefore be made of non-corrodible 'around the parts 5 andII.

material. If the head is made of lead, then the connector II should alsobe of lead. In this construction, the assembly is similar to theassembly of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, the sleeveI2, which replaces the sleeve III, is preferably made of substantiallythe form which it will have in the assembled product. But, the' sizewill be small enough so that it will tsnugly It is noted that in thisconstruction a slot I4 is provided which enables the head 5 to be morereadily compressed against the post 6. It is of course understood thatthe part I I need not necessarily be homogeneous with the part 5,provided the junction between the two is encased within the sleeve I2 soas to prevent access of the acid fumes to the joint between the metals.

Another method of assembly which may be followed but which is notregarded as being as good as that described above is to make the unit 4,5 and connect it to the end of the cable I and then compress the part 5so as to reduce the transverse dimension thereof to a point sufllcientlyless than the diameter it will have, when in use, so that the ring 9will have to be quite noticeably distended when the connector is appliedto the post B. After the assembly of this unit, the rubber may bemoulded about the head and the end portion of the covering 2 to form thestructure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Now, when the rubber is propcrlycured, it will tend to hold the part 5 against distention to fit thepost 6. However, the head or partial ring 5 may be forced on the post 6,thus distending the ring 9. Therefore, the ring 9, by-

its contractility, causes the partial ring 5 to grip the post 6 and holdthe parts .tightly assembled. If it should be desired, the rubber may beextended -across over the smaller end of the opening through the part 5.This same method of construction could be used in connection with theform illustrated in Figs. 3 and. 4.

It is of course understood that the specific description of structureset forth above may be departed from without departingfrom the spirit ofmy invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.Itis intended to claim, both broadly and specifically, the various'novel subject-matter disclosed herein, and I therefore desire thatfailure to insert any claim commensurate with the scope of my inventionbe not construed as an abandonment thereof.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. A .battery connector comprising a ferrule formed of a lead-likemetal, said ferrule having a slot therein extending from end to end andthe inner surface thereof being tapered to conform to a battery post, aconductor secured to said ferrule, and a cover of rubber-like materialcovering the junction between the ferrule and the conductor andextending therefrom along the conductor, said cover also comprising aring surrounding said ferrule and open at least at one end of theferrule, said ring being small enough and strong enough to deform theferrule to a size smaller than the battery post, whereby when saidconnector is placed on a battery terminal the ferrule is heldin tightengagement with said post.

2. A battery connector comprising a ferrule formed of a lead-like metal,said ferrule having a slot therein extending from end to end andtheinner surface thereof being tapered to conform to a battery post, aconductor secured to said y ferrule, and a cover of rubber-like materialcovering the Junction between the ferrule and the conductor andextending therefrom along the conductor, said conductor at its endopposite said ferrule being formed for the attachment of a cable, saidcover extending along said conductor a suillcient distance that itcovers the point of attachment. of said conductor and said cable, saidcover also comprising a ring surrounding said ferrule and open at leastat one end of the ferrule, said ring being small enough and strongenough to deform the ferrule to a size smaller than the battery post.

3. A battery connector comprising a ferrule formed of a lead-like metal,said ferrule having a slot therein extending from end to end and theinner surface thereof being tapered to conform to a battery post, a flatconductor secured to said ferrule, and a cover of rubber-like materialcovering the junction between the ferrule and the conductor andextending therefrom along the conductor, said conductor extendingsubstantially beyond said cover and being formed at its ends for theattachment of a cable, said cover also comprising a ring surroundingsaid ferrule and open at least at one end of the ferrule, said ringbeing small enough and strong enough to deform l permanently the ferruleto a size smaller tha the battery post.

4. A battery connector comprisinga ferrule I junction between theferrule and the conductor and extending therefrom along the conductor,said cover also comprising a ring surrounding said ferrule and open atleast at one end of the ferrule, said ring being small enough and strongenough to deform the ferrule to a size smaller than the battery post.

FRANK S. SHIPMAN.

